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Dec. 22 1925- L. H. BERGMAN BLOWING TANK FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Filed May 1'92: 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W EE'EEE 'fi'e; 2 2, 1925. 1566;517

' L. H. BERGMAN I BLOWING TANK FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Filed May 5, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wm 0/: Bay/77cm Dec. 22,1925

L. H. BERGMAN BLOWING TANK FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS A Sheets-Sheet 5 A. III!!! Ilia/4V Filed May s, 1923 L. H. BERGMAN BLOWING TANK FOR PNEUMATIQTRANSPORT SYSTEMS Fil ed May 5, 1923 4 Sheets-Shee't 4 WEEEIEEE v :15 yE :E L 5H5 rqmc/fi" E y A Patented Dec. 22, 1925..

Man s'r'ras LABS H. BERGMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RAYMOND BROS. ENGINEER- ING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.v i

IBLOWING TANK FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS.

Application flled Kay 5,

To all whom it may cofioem: Be it known that I, LARs H. BERGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blowing Tanks for Pneumatic Transport Systems, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to means for receiving, weighing and blowing into a transport line, a mixture of air and pulverized material, especially in such manner that the quantity of pulverized material so supplied to the transport line can be at all times definitely controlled and ascertained. More particularly, it relates to the connections and valves associated with a blowing tank for such a line.

It .is an object of the present invention to provide more certain, simply constructed and easily operated means than have heretofore existed for providin an airtight closure at the point where t e pulverized material is introduced into the tank.

It is a further object of this invention to more conveniently control the introduction of air into the tank, and particularly to effect a delivery of air in such a manner that the pulverized material is so aerated as to assume the characteristics of a freely'movable fluid. r

It is a further object of this invention to provide an outlet valve which shall deliver to the transport line either a mixture of coal dust and air or a stream of pure air.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for the control of the admission and a mixture of air and powdered material, such as coal, and of the outlet or delivery valve from one convenient point. 7

' It is a further object of this invention to 7 provide means associated with the outlet valve for preventing settling of the coal dust at the bottom of the connection between the tank and the valve.

It is another object of this invention to provide an installation of the class described wherein the outlet from the blowing tank is controlled by a reciprocable plunger.

It is an important object of this inven- 1'923. seria'im. 886,919. r

' rently installed in operative relations to suitable scales for weighing the contents of I the tank.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a tank embodyin this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a four way valve employed in my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view upon an enlarged scale of the slidable-injector release valve shown in Fig. 1.

coal in. thetank and until any desired pressure in the tank is attained. Then air and. fuel are shot. into the transport line under air pressure, and in any desired quantity.

The ElI'thBII'JSCOUIS out any deposited coal in the apparatus or transport line and the apparatus is ready to repeat the above op eration.

The system includes a blowing tank .10, above which there is a hopper or storage tion to provide a blowing tank having such tank 11 throu h which the pulverizedmaterial is intro uced, preferably by gravity.

connections with the transport line that the lead to a height above the floor which will bririg them within easy reach.

The valve 12 opens into a hopper permanently mounted on the blowmg tank 10.

Below the valve 12 is an air check gravity valve 16 which is operable by a rock-shaft 18 and lever 17. The outer end of the crank lever 17 is provided with a'link 19 having a hook 20 at its lower end, preferably at,

. about the same hei ht as the lower end of the chains 15. A andle ring 21 is also provided at the lower end of the link 19. A ring 22 is "provided for engaging the hook 20. This ring is swiveled upon the upper end 'of a screw 23,.the lower end of n vin 1) which is provided with a handle wheel-24 for operating it. The screw is threaded dies the four-Way valve 32. The p 30 through a lug 25 secured tov any convenient 6, throughout the greater portion of its part of the frame of the apparatus. With the hook 20 engaging the ring 22, t1ghtening the screw 23 will ull the hook 20 and the link 19 downwar 1y, causing the air.

valve 16 to seat firmly .against a gasket- 26 provided at the bottom of a hopper 10" which is between the valves 12 and 16.

vBy this arrangement of 'twovalves, an

air tight closure of the supply port is readi-.

ly assumed, with no trouble from lodgment of fuel particles on the seat of the air check valve.

Air is supplied from any suitable source of compressed air through the pipe 30, havingla flexible connection 30. 31is-a valve which, if desired, may be of any usual pres sure reducing type. This pipe 30- leads to a four-way valve 32, which, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 2,.controls communication with a pipe 33 leading into the top of the tank 10, a pipe 34 leading to the left to the transport line and a;pipe 35-going downward. The valve '32 is of a well-known type, it may close the connection leading to ports 41 inthebo'ttom of the tank or, in one position, it connects the pipes 33 and 34. In a second position it connects the pipes 30 and 33. In a third position it connects the pipe 30 and 35. A fourth position is possible in which the valve 32 .connects the pipes 35 and 34, but it will be seen from the description given below that the mechanism for operating the valve 32 ordinarily does not bring it into this fourth position.

, The pipe 33 connects througha horizontal pipe 31%;

refera l the p1 safety vva ve 37-. referably also the p1 33 is connected to a pressure gauge 38.

The pipe-34, extends from the four-way valve 32, around the housing- 39 to the fuel transport line 40, which has a flexible section 40?. The junction preferably is by means of a welded joint. I

The pipe 35 extends downwardly and,

with the interior of the "tank..=

e 33 also extends to as shown at 5 in Fig. 1, is connected with channel 42 in the casting at thebottom of the*blow tank 10. This channel 42. see Fig. 3) extends around this casting. wardly extending ducts 41 connect this channel with the interior of the casting .so that the mouths of these ducts form a series df holes just below the upper mouth of the casting. As shown in Fig. 3, this casting provides at 43 a seat for gasket 45 of the cou ling 44 by which the casting is united wit the transport line 40.

Preferably the coupling 44 has a constricted passage to give greater effect to a stream of air when-delivered through a nozzle 46 which receives 'air from a pipe 36 that joins the pipe 30 before the latter lP length, is shown as parallel to the pipe 35. At its lower end the pipe 36 has a flexible section 47. i w

tively with the hand'valves 48 and 49 which may be set to control the rate of flow throu' h said pipes. Ordinarily these valves will he any given installation.

The pipe 36is, supplied also with a valve 50 adjacent its junction with the pipe section 51, asshown in Figure 1. Pipesection 51 is rig dly connected with the sliding nozzle member 52, being screwed into a web 53 across said member. The sliding piece 52 reciprocates within a bearing 54 in this botset at asubstantially permanent setting for The pipes 35 and 36 are provided respec- Inn tom casting and this bearing has the usual packing gland as illustrated. The. sleeve '55- is slidably mounted upon the pipe 51, passes loosely through the right hand end of the slidlng piece 52 and normally abuts the coupling 62, as shown in Fig. 3. A spring 56 the usual arrangement 61. At'the right of the sleeve 55, as shown in Fig. 3, a coupling 62 is provided which serves to couple pipe runs a chain 65 mean? shaft 67 on the outer end of which there is a hand wheel '68 for the-manipulation of the valve 32. A dial 69 is provided over which moves "a pointer70 integral with the handle I ed by a T with a pipe 84 which leads both to i as 68. The dial 69 covers onlya half of a circle because-the valve 32 is ordinarily only operated through a half circle or less.

In the modification shown in Fig.5, the tank 10 and hopper 11 are connected as already described, Air. is supplied through a' ipe controlled by a valve 81. Pipe80 as a flexible section 82. Pipe 80 is connectthe.top and the bot-tom of the tank 10. This pipe 84 is controlled above the T by a valve 85 and below the T by a valve 86. The valve 86 is separately hand operated. The valve 85 is connected with a lever 87 which simul= taneously operates valve 86 and the moving parts of the blowing valve shown in Fig. 6.

The lower part of the pipe 84 is connected, b a horizontal pipe 88 to the housing of the blbwing valve shown in Fig. 6.

The housing of the blowing valve encloses a channel or annular-chamber 89 which has "an upper set of ports 90 and a lower set. of

ports 91 opening into the interior bore orchamber- The sliding nozzle portion of the blowing valve has a relatively small cylindrical part 92 leading from its outer end 83 and extending through a stufiing box of the usual format the lower end of the housing. Above this smaller part this sliding member is enlarged to a sliding fit with the annular web 89 which forms the inner wall of chamber 89. This enlarged part 93 has an intermediate transverse web dividing the inte- ,rior of the sliding member into chambers A' and B. The wall of chamber B is provided with ports 95 adapted-to cooperate with the ports 90. The wall of, chamber A has'ports 96 adapted to cooperate with the'ports 91.

Although but two ports 90 are shown and but two ports 91, there may be a circular series of each of these ports extending around the housing, in which event there would be a corresponding series of ports 95 and 96.

From the web 94 a nozzle 97 extends from. chamber A through chamber B to the top of the sliding member and terminates in .a' nipple 98, extending into the lower end of the fuel transport line 40 which in this form extends through the interior of the tanklO and emerges at the top thereof.

The lower end of, the transport line 40 is provided with or secured to a casting providing a valve seat 99 supported by a spider 100 which is here shown as resting upon the housing or casting of the valve. This housing or casting may be secured, as shown in is provided 6,- to the bottom of the tank 10 by any suitable form of bolts. 7 l

The enlargedpart 93 of the sliding valve with obliquev duets 101 above the ports 95 adapted to establish communication etween chamber B and the interior of tank 10. The enlarged part of the sliding member terminates in a conical end 102 which cooperates with the valve seat 99 to close the lower end of the transport line 40 when the valve is in its upper position. The link 102 on the end of the lever 87, through a collar .103 at the lower end of the valve, communi cates motionfrom the lever to the sliding I a valve.

In the operation of the form shown in Fig. 1, pulverized material such as powdered coal. is introducedinto the hopper 11. The valve 32 is set to connect the pipes '33 and 34, which results in exhaustlng' into the transport line any air pressure within the -tank 1 0. The hand wheel 24 is then rotated to loosen the screw 23 so that the ring 22 is free of the hook-20. The link 19 is then manipulated by means of the handle ring 21 so as to open the valve 16 as valve 16 opens by gravity. The valve 12 is opened either before or after valve 16 by means of the chains 15 and coal from the hopper 11. descends to the tank 10. WVhen the desired amount, as shown by the ed, the valve 12 is close by means of the chains15-andthe valve 16 is closed by means of the link 19 and ring 21. Hook 20 is placed through the ring 22 ,and the hand wheel 24 is rotated to tighten the screw 23 untilthe valve 16 is seated firmly against the gasket 26. The valve 32 is then set to connect the pipe 30'with the pipe 33, and.

if the valve31 is not already open, it is now opened. This causes air to pass from the supply line through the pipe 30, valve 31,

sigales, has descend-' the foiir way valve 32 into the pipe 33, from which it goes toactpate the gauge 38 and passes through the pipe 33 into the tank 10. In passing in it stirs the material within the tank andso mixes the air and the material efiectu'ally. The valves are left in'this position until the gauge" 38 indicates thatf v the desired through car sure is permitted to rise too high, the sat ty pressure has been reached. If e essness or ignorance the pres valve 37 will open and the tank will be pro- 'tecte-d. The valve 32 is now set so as to con nect the pipe 30 with the pipe 35. The air which continues to enter the tank will now pass into the ducts 41 and so by entering the bottom part of the tank will still more effectually fill the same and tend. to effect a thorough aeration of the material in the tank. This 'settingof the valve 32 is permitted to continue until the full pressure is developed in the tank 10. The valve 32 is then closed. The tank, however, continues to be protected against high pressure by in Flg. 3 into the illustrated transport line.

The blowing of the material int0 the transport line 40 is assisted by air which passes through the ipe down the pipe 36-an'd through the exible connection 47 and valve 50 into the pipe 51, from which-it ,pa'sses throu h the nozzle 46 and 'createsa strong injecting blast through the constricted part of the connection 44. When 'sufiicient material has beenremoved from the'tank, as

shown by the weighing scales, the lever 59 is operated, bringing the latch 61 into the upper of the two unoccupied notches shown in the quadrant in Fig. 1. This moves the sliding member 52 shown in Fig. 3511ificientl y forits face 119 to contact with the gasket 45, thus closing part 44 and shutting ofi communication between the tank 10 and the transport line 40. During this motion of the part 52 by the lever, the sleeve 55 pressing against the spring 56 will cause the travel of the part 52. No compression-of the spring 56 occurs until the shoulder 110 has seated against the gasket 45. lhus valve- 50 remains open and-air contirmes to blow into the transport line. The travel ofthe sleeve 55 corresponding to of the'lever 59 goes beyond thispoint, this extra motion causing compression of the spring 56, thereby firmly holding .shoulder' 110 against gasket 43.' As valve 50 and the flexible end 47 of the pipe 36 moves with sliding member 52, there is no relative'motionbetween the valve 50 and the end'58 of the lever 59 until after the movement of the sliding member 52 isarrested. Consequent- :ly the valve 50 remains open.. Air, therefore, continues to pass down the pipe 36 and through rial no longerenters-the passa e 44. This current of air to the transport ine removes whatever material may be left in the line. When suflicientair has passed through the nozzle 46 for this purpose, the lever 59 is moved to the last notch in the quadrant .60.

As forward movement of the nozzle member has been arrested the lever now moves the sleeve 55 along the pipe 51', thereby closing 1 the valve. 50. I The yielding resistance of spring 56 permits this relative movement between lever58 and ipe 51, which thus shuts oil the flow of air rough valve 50. a

".The' valve 32 may then be returned to its top'position so as to connect only pipes 33 the described movement the nozzle 46, bpt pulverized mateand 34. Any remaining pressure in the tank 10 is thus relieved as air fiows from the tank through the pipe 33, pipe 33, valve 32 and pipe 34 into the transport line 40. The tank s thus made ready to receive a further charge of pulverized materiar and the described operation repeated. 7

J While the valve 50 is open as above described, the air which pass s through the pipe 36 into the nozzle 46 sis up a current through ducts 111 which lead to the face 110. The currents from these ducts scour the botto 113 of the casting free from any mate ri which may have settled there.

In the operation of the .form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, pulverized material is introduced in the same way as in the modification shown in Fig. 1. Air from pipe passes through the T 'cgnnection into the pipe 84. The position of the blow 'out valve isthen as illustrated in Fig. 6. Air passes down pipe 84' and through pipe 88 into chamber 89, through ports 90 and and ducts 101 into the bottom, of the 'tank, stirring up and aerating whatever material has tended to settle.

valve 85 is open, air passes up the pipe 84 and enters the tank at the top. Pressure in the tank is thus built up by air'delivered both at the top and the bottom of the tank. When the pressure has reaphedthe required amount, the lever 87 is raised. This closes valve 85 and'causes themain slide valve in Fig. 6 toedescend'. The descent of this valve closes the ports 95 and 101 and brings the If at the same time the ports 96 into register with the ports 91. Air 1 now flows into chamber A, through nozzle 97 and emerges from the nipple 98 into the transport line 40. At the same time, valve 102. having been unseated from seat 99,

,'the tank is thus powerfully assisted'by the injector action of air infiowing throughthe ports 96 andout through nozzle 97. Further ssistance is given by air which flows from t e pipe 80, past, the open valve 81, through the flexible pipe 82 and enters at 83 into chamber .A.

When a suflicient uantitypf material has been delivered and y reversing the movement of the lever 87, the valve is returned to its illustrated position, the flow of air from the flexible pipe 82 continues until the transport line 40 has been cleared of material.

f desired, this flow may continue at all times, or-it may -be stopped by closing the hand-operated valve 81.

The various tank on a weighing apparatus whereby the amount of material charged into anddischarged from tank 10 may be determined by lwelight and controlled by manipulating the Va ves.

flexible connections which "are provided make possible the mounting ofthe I am aware that numerous details'o-f construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.) C

' I claim:

1. The combination with a blow tank for y, combination with a container for pulverized pneumatic conveying mechanism for powdered substances, of a transport line leading from said tank, an air supply conduit, other conduits leading respectively from said first named conduit to the top and bottom ,of said tank, a sconduit leading to said transport line in advance of'the entrance end thereof, a valve arranged to selectively connect. two ofsaid air conduits, whereby the valve in one position directs air from said supply .conduit into the bottom of said tank and in another position directs air from the top of the tank to the said ,conduit leading to the transport line, and .a'separately controlled conduit leading from the air supply conduit to the entrance end of the transport line.

'2. The combination with a. blow tank, of means for admitting fuel thereto, a1r-t1ght means for closing the'fuel admission passage to said tank, meansfor admitting air under pressure into said tank above the fuel contents therein, means for admitting air under pressure into said tank below the fuel contents therein, a transport line leading" from thebottom of said tank, means for controlling the discharge of air and fuel from said tank to the, transport line, independent means for exhausting air'from said tank to the transport line independent of the fuel contents of said tank and means for independently discharging air under pressure into the transport line through said means for controlling the discharge of fuel.

3. The combination with a blow tank, of

means for admitting fuel thereto, means for: accumulating a1r pressure therein, a trans-- port line, means for controlling the flow of fuel and air from said tank to the transport line, said means comprising a valve provided with a nozzle adapted to serve as a valve to control the discharge of fuel from the tank to the. transport line, in combination with a second valve arranged to control the flow of air through said nozzle either simultaneously with the flow of fuel from said tank, whereby said nozzle serves as an air ejector to assist'the fuel flow, or independently of the ,fuel vflow, to scour the transport line. a a I 4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a container for pulverized material and a conduit for conveying material from said container, of a valve adapted to close communication between said conduit and said container, said 'valve com rising a v nozzle portion provided with an a1r.ejector nozzle, a body portidn within which said 5 nozzle portion is slidably mounted, a sleeve arranged. to be reciprocated upon an ex tension of-said' nozzle ortion, a spring interposed between said s eev,e and said nozzle porti6n and. means for reciprocating said 7 .sleeve. 4 5

5. In a device of the class described, the

material and a conduit for conveying inate' rial from said container, of a valve adapted 7 toclose communication between said conduit and said container, said valve comprising a nozzle portion provided, with an air. ejector nozzle, a body portion within. which said nozzle portion is slidably'mounted, a 30 sleeve arranged to Joe reciprocated upon an extens'ion of said nozzle portion; a spr1ngin-- terposed between said sleeve and said nozzle portion, means for reciprocating said sleeve 7 anair conduit communicatin nozzle portion, a valve controlling passage throu h said conduit and connections whereby sa d last namedvalve is only actuated when said sleeve is moved with relation to said nozzle portion. a 6. The combination with a tank adapted tocontain pulverized material, of a conduit arranged to receive and convey material from .said tanlnmeans for controlling the flow of materialfrom the tank to said conduit and for accelerating said flow by an injector action, said means comprising a nozzle member adapted to be seated in said conduit to close communication between the tank and the conduit, said nozzle meinber being provided with a centrally arrangednozzle extending into said conduit, a body casting within -which said nozzle member is slidably mounted, a comressed air conduit communicating with the lnterior of said nozzle member, a valve controllin the passage through said coml presse air conduit, a sleeve slidably mounted with relation to said nozzle member, means for reciprocating said sleeve whereby said nozzle member is moved to and from its seat in the first named conduit and con nections between said sleeve actuating means and said air conduit 'valve whereby said air conduit valve is only actuated during relative movement between said sleeve and said nozzle member.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a container for pulverized fuel, of means for discharging fuel from the container comprising a fuel discharge conduit communicating with said container, a nozzle movable to open and close said communication, an air conduit communicating with said nozzle, a valve controlling the passage of air through said nozzle, and operating means for said valve and nozzle. having a lost motion connection with said nozzle, whereby the operations of the valve and nozzle are effected successively.

I 1 8. In a device of the class described thecombination with a container for u verized'fuel, of means for jiischarging' t e fuel from the container comprising a fuel discharge conduit communicating with said ,coutainer, a nozzle movable to open and.

close said communication, an air conduit commumcatmg with said nozzle; a, valve controllin the passage 8f air throu b said nozzle,.an means for operating sai valve may be efiectedindependently of each other.

LABS R'BERGMAN. 

